Local Foods and Food Hubs

While interest in local foods has gained momentum in recent years, Matson Consulting has been working to explore and expand the industry, including local food systems (such as food hubs) and urban agriculture.

Matson Consulting maintains an interest in local foods and helping rural businesses looking to break into the local foods industry. One constant throughout all of our projects is our focus and understanding of locals foods. We consider ourselves the experts when it comes to the procurement and logistics of local foods and we have a passion for helping rural businesses succeed within that industry. Through our feasibility studies, business plans, and strategic planning, we have been able help local food organizations form and prosper.

Matson Consulting is able to assist businesses looking to explore the local foods market by helping secure local food grants. The USDA’s Agricultural Marketing Service has multiple grant programs available for these businesses, including the Farmers’ Market Promotion Program and the Local Food Promotion Program. Visit our In the News page to read an article on agricultural development boards and how Jim Matson sees their role in local food growth.

The USDA has created a National Farmers Market Directory that includes a searchable list of the nation’s farmers markets by location, goods available, and more. To find farmers markets near you, visit here.

Our passion for this industry is evident in the many articles and reports we have published on local foods and food hubs. Through these publications, we have been able to further explore local food marketing as well as gain a better understanding of the industry across many regions. Matson Consulting has also presented industry research and commentary at many local food conferences including the NGFN Food Hub Collaboration Spring 2014 Conference and the Third International Conference on Food Studies. Follow the link below to see a full list of our local foods and food hub publications.